In AQUA, part memoir, part road trip narrative, Italian writer Chiara Barzini explores the mirage of Los Angeles, the glittering city of contradictions, while chasing her own version of the Hollywood dream. Barzini, who spent her formative high school years in LA, embarks on an investigative journey into the history of the Los Angeles aqueduct and the ongoing siphoning of limited resources that fuel industry in the desert city. Barzini goes a step further, casting her gaze on the Salton Sea, California City, Manzanar, and beyond. Even though I grew up in Southern California and am a Californian through and through, Barzini's AQUA exposed a complex vision of my state that was completely enlightening.
A beautifully written book.